"Victor Guest" <vic@daena.eepo.com.au>
Subject: V-HM: Round-up & frogs
Hello all,
In Australia there has recently been released a new formulation of Round-up
that is 'Waterway friendly'. Apparently the carrier in the original Round-up
formulation is toxic to marine life.
A couple of articles that may be of interest were published in the Journal of
Pesticide Reform Winter 1995 - Vol. 15, No.4 (Publisher: Northwest Coalition
for Alternatives to Pesticides - PO Box 1393, Eugene, Oregon 97440 /
(541)344-5044.
I have no idea how credible the above publication is but there are some quite
serious allegations raised about the safety of glyphosate (active ingredient
of Round-up). A sample:
- lettuce, carrots and barley planted a year after glyphosate treatment
contained residues at harvest. (A concern with genetically engineered species
like soybeans that are resistant to Round-up so that it can be sprayed over
them!)
- In California, glyphosate exposure was the third most commonly reported
cause of pesticide illness amomg agricultural workers.
- With chemical testing it is often only the active ingredient that is tested,
but sometimes the other things added (e.g. surfactant) can be toxic, and/or
the combinations can become toxic.
- Two serious cases of fraud have occurred in laboratories conducting
toxicology residue testing for glyphosate and glyphosate-containing products.
Cheers,
Mark
Mark & Susie Rowe Phone 03-5886 7122 Mobile 018-527805
"Fernbank" Fax 03-5886 7153
Coleambally NSW 2707 Email rowies@msn.com